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Monday, May 10, 2010

A bunch of sickos having fun.

Last week we were sick....again. Half of us (yes, me included) came down with strep throat. Because we knew we had at least one untreated case and were unsure of who else might have it, we decided to stay home on Sunday. We wanted to make the most of our all-day-at-home day before Daddy went back to work on Monday, so we came up with a plan.

We lined all the kids up in the living room and declared we would have special day. Even though some of the kids were sick, none of them were down. We couldn't play outside at all because it was raining. So we declared it a no-screen day (no tv or computer or video games), but assured the kids that it would be a day full of family fun.

We figured we would have 12 hours from 9am to 9pm. One hour each would take up meal prep, eating, and clean-up for three meals which would leave a total of nine hours. We have nine members of the family (7 kids plus Chad and I). So each family member would get to decide what we would do for an entire hour. The rules were that it had to be activities that the entire family could participate in and you had to participate!

We started with the youngest, so we all just rolled around on the floor and played with Baby L for the first hour.

Next was L1's turn. She wanted to paint fingernails...

And play with babies...

Each hour we would have a changing ceremony. The blurry picture below was the only one I got of this part. Whomever's turn it was to choose activities for the hour would where a toy medal necklace we had. Here L1 is giving the medal to E3 since it was his turn...

He was proud to have his medal...

E3 decided to spend the entire hour coloring...

Next was H4's turn, who wanted to play hide and seek. I didn't get pictures of this because we were having too much fun to stop and take pictures!

Next, E6 decided he wanted to paint. I couldn't say no today regardless of how messy it was, so everyone got aprons out and they painted away...

Next, Aubrey continued our arts and crafts fun with some paper-doll making...

G9 went for another hour of hide and seek. And then Chad decided to wrestle with the kids for his hour...thankfully, there were minimal injuries.

Last of all, was my hour! First we made some yummy root beer floats...

And then all the kids laid down in the living room with their blankets to listen to Daddy read a couple of chapters of Treasure Island before bedtime.

It turned out to be such a fun day that the kids were asking to do it every week. I figured the kids would have fun, but I didn't expect Chad and I to have such a fun time. I can assure you I didn't think about checking my emails even once!

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About Me

I am a wife and homeschooling mother of ten children ages 15, 13, 12, 10, 9, 7, 5, 4, 2, and 1. I have found joy in sharing ideas and encouragement with other homeschool parents through speaking sessions, organizing parent meetings and educational events, creating ebooks and educational games, and writing posts and reviews online. While God has led me to teach my children at home, I am finding that He is teaching me even more. Truly God is going before me preparing my children's hearts and minds. There have been discouraging days and successful days on our homeschool journey, but the success has never been mine. It belongs solely to my children and the One who created them. I have been blessed and often humbled to be a part of it!